Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-09-28
GOLD AND CILE
The False and the True.

When L promised my dying mother
that l would look after Benny unit ihe
was eighteen years old 1 meant what
SAID had only the income from ten
thousand dollars and nv own earnings
TO depend on, but we managed to get
along very well.
| could not break my word to mother,
even when Fred Dare asked me to be
his wife. Ben must live with us if /
married at all. Fred grumbled and
said he must have me alone or not at
all, and when 1 was iirm went off in a
rage, and 1 saw him no more for
week. He was very penitent and anx-
lous for my favor. But somehow l
never felt the same toward him again,
and, though he pressed me to name
the wedding-day, 1 kept putting him
off and putting him of, for L felt
little worried.
The months went on. One morning
L received note from John Arnold
John and 1 had never met since ! had
told him, more than a year before,
that his love for me was hopeless; but
often and often L had felt and had
cause to know that from a distance he
watched over Inc like a true and faith
fal friend. The note said:
MY DEAR Miss MARGARET: There
are Tumors abroad that Simpsons Bank
is in difficulties and may suspend L
am sure YOU VIII acquit me of all in
tentiOn 10 interfere in your affairs, and
believe that it is as your sincere friend
advise you to withdraw your money
from their hands at once. Otherwise
Loo. . raa1r
JOHN ARNOLD.
put on my bonnet and started for
Simpsons that moment. The money
was paid to me, though not without
seme murmuring and hesitation, and
with my whole fortune in my little
| satchel and heart glowing with graft
tude to John In my bosom l started for
! home.
Before had gone many steps l be-
came afraid. The excitement of the
past hour. the suspense | had endured
while the money was being paid TO me,
/ the danger of utter ruin in which l
had unconsciOusly stood, and the mar
rowness of my escape from it-all
these had sorely tried my nerves, and
now all at once fear came upon me.
Was it safe for me to carry so much
'
| take il with me home? Might not
some one have watched and followed
mer What If L should be robbed?
| These thoughts unnerved ME alto
gether. y sudden resolve came to me.
John had saved the money-John
should keep it for me; and, Tetracing
my steps, l fastened i'll the direction OF
| his house.
They were at dinner. Johns store
| adjoned the house in which he lived
with his widowed mother, In l
rushed, without stopping even TO be
announced, and laId the satchel down
upon the table beside him.
There il isl'' l cried. Thanks to
you-who have saved itr' And then
l;s4e sight OK him and ta-e Sudden chan ge
I in his face AT tie sight or me over
came me. L burst out crying violently
as Mrs. Arnold took me kindly in L eI
arms.
..She has been over-excited and is
| hysterical, she said TO him gently.
Leave her with me, John. III keep
her here this afternoon and you can see
her presently" So he went away.
| That evening, as L lay on the sofa
| suffering from severe headache, he sal
10y me and toln me the news.
|
of your, money finished it; they sus
pended payment this afternoon. THANK
God you are safe. however"
put out my hand to him. "Thanl
God, indeed, and thank youln l sald
He put my hand 10 his lips and kissed
it-kissed it tenderly, warmly, again
and again-then dropped it and arose
and walked to the window with !
heavy, bitter sigh.
Poor Johni He loved me still. a
much as he did four years ago when h
| asked me 10 be lis wife. / was a poo
girl then; for it was before poor auntI
died and left me her little fortune
John had just set up for himself il
| business. 81 can keep wife now,
he said, ''and perhaps help your mothe
with Benny, too" All, he was Away
generous.
Why couldn't respond to such tru
affection? He had a right to eXpec
a favorable answer, for L had accepte
his attentions and encouraged his Low
for months, Indeed, L had believe
that l loved him. until L met Ere
Dare. He daZZled me, and | no longe
cared for Joon. Sc / refused him; an
shortly afterward the fortune came t
me and L became engaged to Free
Dare.
But of late-of late-my mind ha'
misgiven me strangely as to the wisdoi
of my choice. l loved Fred still, bu
l wondered why loved him, and eve
} doubted the sincerity of his regard fC
me. And now, as | looked at Johr
} as / reflected on his constant affection
f, aud acknowledged In my soul how iitt
deserved it, vague regret oppresse
my heart, and longed for his esteel
? and pardon. Under the influence {
: this feeling L said, suddenly:
/. Forgive me, John-forgive mel''
l He came instantly to my sid
: "There is nothing TO forgive" he sal,
: s'You followed the dictates OF yOl
|; own heart, my dear; pray God it ma
l bring you true happiness.
L And 1 felt more miserable and r
:. gretful than ever after that. and fell
n pitying myself, somehow, Just as la
: pitied john
e Next morning, at my own hous
: Fred came rushing in with a WI
9 white face,
9 The bankp' he cried. "wasn
e your money In the Simpson Bank?"
y ''it was," told him.
Il "Then it is goner' he groane
your fortunes gone and you're
beggar!"
He sat down like one stunned, al
covered his face with his hands al
groaned bitterly. 1 felt inexpressib
20 touched and gratified to see him tai
81 my loss so much to heart. I
$ preached myself for every doubt
ID ever harbured against him. This abs
Is lutte sympathy with my supposed mi
ie fortune was so sweet that L resolv'
not Immediately to undeceiye him.
y Sat down beside him and took his han
Don't grieve SO deeply L SAL
10 smiling. ''Money is not everything
ie the world. See how calm 1 am, al
% of course it is for my sake you a
ie grieved. The loss of my fortune m
be endured so long as L am sure
your love-"